A TIKTOK post by Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko’s daughter, boasting of her trip to witness King Charles III’s coronation, has infuriated many citizens.
Savannah Tkatchenko accompanied her father who represented the Prime Minster to attend the coronation on May 6.
The video hash-tagged #aussiesinengland and showing selfies of Savannah at various stages of the trip with one scene showing her bare back getting dressed, brought angry responses on social media forum, many wanting to know who paid for her trip.
Calls have been made for the prime minister to decommission Tkatchenko and to have him referred to the Ombudsman Commission.
Tkatchenko has come to his daughter’s defence, claiming the social media posters were “opening their big mouths” without finding out the facts.
He said because his wife could not make the trip, his eldest daughter, Savannah, had to represent her mother.
“Savannah is a Papua New Guinean citizen, but holds an Australian passport as well,” he said.
“She recently graduated as a lawyer from a prestigious university in Australia.”
He said she represented PNG during the Head of Government spouses’ event on cervical cancer eradication in the Commonwealth countries.
“The country should be proud of her.
“She carried herself well and represented the country as a Papua New Guinean and has made a lot of friends and contacts.
“She is just like any other Papua New Guinean educated, professional woman.”
An open letter to Prime Minister James Marape posted on the National Security Whatsapp group addressed the matter in the following terms: “You are the immediate boss of the Foreign Affairs Minister.
“Since the video is creating a wave of antagonism towards your government, can you order an investigation into:
- THE eligibility of dependents attending such important events;
- WHO footed the bill for the junket taken by this dependent;
- WHAT net benefit the child derived for PNG; and,
- WHETHER or not your government has been brought into disrepute.
“PM JM, shopping at Louis Vuitton (referring to a scene in the video) whilst the majority of your voters are on the daily hand to mouth grind sends a message of aloofness and irresponsibility.”
A Simon Meggins wrote to The National with the following comments: “An MP’s daughter who lives and works in Australia, contributes to the economy of Australia but travels free under the banner of PNG, thanks to the millions of tax-payers money.”
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